More milk, more insight and more peace of mind with the Gemini UP
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Dairy farming is central to the Dollen farm in Wierden. In 2020, Bert Dollen made the switch to robotic milking. Since then, the farm has grown from about 55 to more than 70 cows and milk production has also increased considerably. With the current BouMatic Gemini Up, an average of 36 to 37 kilos of milk per cow is now produced.
"We have made quite a step, which is partly thanks to the robot."
Milk quality and peace in the barn
For Bert, a good milking robot starts with the basics: milk quality. "Milk quality is what it's all about on a farm." According to him, the Gemini Up combines a high milking speed with a high-quality milking process. Especially the milking between the hind legs appeals to him.
The comfort in the barn is also a clear advantage for Bert. With the Gemini UP, the vacuum pump is no longer on top of the robot, but in a separate room. As a result, it is considerably quieter in the barn.
"That's nice for the cows, but also for the farmer. That provides comfort for both."
More insight thanks to smart technology
At Dollen's farm, the Gemini Up is equipped with MilkGenius. The system measures fat, protein and lactose, among other things, and thus gives Bert extra insight into the cows and the milk. Changes can be a reason to adjust the ration or to intervene earlier when a cow seems to be developing health problems.
In addition, Dollen now uses VisionAI. The robot analyzes the connection positions and optimizes them automatically. Where Bert used to regularly retrain cows to improve the connection, this is now hardly necessary. "The robot now does that automatically."
The average connection time is therefore around 50 seconds. In combination with a pre-treatment time of about 40 seconds, the milking process is efficient, without compromising on good preparation of the cow.
From five to nine tons of milk
The development is also clearly reflected in the figures. With almost 70 cows on the robot, the daily production is now regularly above 2,400 kilos of milk, with peaks towards 2,500 kilos. The company produces an average of 36 to 37 kilos of milk per cow, with about 2.5 milkings per day.
Where the company used to produce around five tons of milk, the total production is now around eight to nine tons. For Bert, that growth tastes like more. The following ambition is clear:
"If we continue like this, we can certainly get the million liters of milk with this robot."
"If we continue like this, we can certainly get the million liters of milk with this robot."
Bert Dollen
